The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is the backbone
of our nation’s transport system. LTA scholar Michelle
Cheung fills us in on how LTA’s infrastructure projects
effectively balance community and environmental
considerations.
Singapore boasts a first-rate transport system and this is largely due to the proper planning
for and implementation of LTA’s infrastructure projects. These infrastructure fulfil not only the
'hard' aspects of engineering – the aesthetics and sustainability of physical transport networks
such as roads, expressways and railway tracks – but also the 'softer' aspects, especially environmental
protection.
LTA believes in a holistic approach to its design, planning and construction work to ensure that these
are carried out in an environmentally-friendly manner that has minimal impact on the community.
It thus needs a team of capable individuals to plan and implement these sustainable planning and
construction practices. One such team member is LTA Undergraduate Scholar Michelle Cheung, who
is currently fulfilling her roles as an Assistant Environmental Manager in the Safety (Environmental)
division of LTA.
The softer side of engineering
In her role, Michelle ensures contractors' due diligence in keeping with environmentally-friendly
practices on-site while making sure that our transport infrastructure is built with minimal negative
impact on the community’s daily function.
This includes managing the noise and carbon levels on work sites, ensuring that the daily lives
of those living and working nearby can continue unabated while rolling out initiatives to push LTA’s
environmental management standards to the next level.
She tells us, “If the environmental management aspect is not taken care of, construction sites will
be littered with debris and be filled with pools of stagnant water. These will in turn become sources of
dengue and disease transmission, which will naturally affect the surrounding community negatively.
Michelle Cheung Weng
LTA Undergraduate Scholar
Designation:
Assistant Environmental Manager,
Safety (Environmental) Division
Studied:
Bachelor of Engineering
(Environmental Engineering),
National University of Singapore
“We also encourage contractors to partake in
simple things such as rainwater harvesting and
greening-up of site offices with plants. These
are things we strongly support and continually
encourage.”
At the corporate level, Michelle also busies
herself with meeting government agency
representatives from the National Environment
Agency (NEA), PUB the Water Agency or the
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to
conduct research projects on greening initiatives
or simply exchange insights about on-site
recycling.
But working with contractors and other
stakeholders, both from the public and the
Government, comes with its fair share of
challenges, considering that conflict of interests
often arise from the effusion of differing
perspectives.
Michelle shares humbly, “Balancing various
viewpoints was certainly a challenge I initially
faced. But you learn to compromise as you go
along and how to better understand another’s
difficulties. It is important to find a way to balance
resources such as cost and time to ensure a
project’s steady progress.”
A place to learn
As someone who has always been passionate
about initiatives that promote saving the earth,
Michelle knew she wanted a career that would be
reflective of this passion. She did not apply for a
scholarship with government agencies that deal
straightforwardly with environmental concerns
(such as NEA and PUB) as she found it more
meaningful to apply her interest in a different
industry while being able to make the same
impact.
And because she marveled at intelligent
transport systems from which she benefitted
during her overseas trips, she decided to
capture the best of both worlds by pursuing
NUS’ Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental
Engineering) with a scholarship offered by LTA.
Michelle’s scholarship allowed her a wide
range of internship opportunities to choose from.
She was attached to the Safety (Environmental)
Division during her first internship and had such
a good experience that she wanted to kick-start
her career there.
Her second internship with the Research
and Publication division, combined with the
workshops to which she was invited regularly,
gave her exposure to policy-making and a broad
perspective of LTA’s diversified operations.
The learning did not stop after she graduated
from school – in fact, more learning opportunities
awaited and continue to await her. She is currently
looking forward to a cross-departmental rotation
to the Rail (Civil) Division, where her new role will
comprise the application of both civil engineering
and project management.
She tells us, “LTA scholars are slated for
rotation to another division every two years to gain
exposure to the operations of various divisions. In
my next division, I would be able to capitalise on
my prior environmental management knowledge
to influence environmentally-friendly regulations
and simultaneously learn new things.”
A fulfilling journey
With all these learning experiences, Michelle is
glad her job is not desk-bound and she has plenty
of opportunities to put theory into practice.
"Even though I am not directly
contributing to the construction of these
stations, it is important that I help ensure these
stations are built responsibly."
When required, Michelle can be found on-site
with core civil engineering teams to help oversee
each project’s community and environmental
impact. Both the civil engineering team and
Michelle’s environmental engineering team work
together to ensure that LTA’s works proceed as
seamlessly as possible without undue impact to
the surrounding people or environment.
She is currently working with the Downtown
Line’s Civil Construction Team to build tunnels
along the Hume Avenue, Beauty World, King
Albert Park and Sixth Avenue stations as well as
with the team connecting the stations between
the Stevens and Havelock stations on the
upcoming Thomson East Coast line.
She muses, “Even though I am not directly
contributing to the construction of these
stations, it is important that I help ensure these
stations are built responsibly.”
All in all, Michelle has numerous responsibilities
riding on her shoulders, especially when she
is required to wield critical problem-solving
skills to deliver fast-changing Ministry-level
objectives. However, she is thankful that LTA has
introduced her to mentors from whom she can
seek invaluable guidance and advice. “We are
able to pick from three deputy group directors to
be our mentors. Our mentors are generous with
insights from which we learn immensely and
always willing to share their past experiences.
I will soon work more closely with my mentor
when he becomes my boss in my next rotation!”
she enthuses.
Michelle’s excitement about her duties
speaks highly about her passion for her work.
For aspiring LTA scholars, Michelle advises, “In
addition to having an interest in the transport
system, it is important to possess enthusiasm
and the eagerness to learn. I intend to remain
here in the long run because there are so many
opportunities to take up and learn from. The
things you learn here are things you don’t learn in
school, so find fulfilment in learning and enjoy the
journey here at LTA.”